Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-11
TO TRAIS the HAND.
President Gilman Thinks IL Seoes-
sity 90 n Perfect EdccatSon.
New York Times.

The first OF series OF ten free lectures,
under the auspices OF the industrial E1u'
cation Association, was delivered by
President ID. c. Gilman, Of Johns Hop
kins University, on "Education in Handi-
craft" at 4 O'Clock YESTERDAY afternoon, in
the ball Of the Association, at No. 8
University Place. The speaker was
introduced by General A. $. Webb,
and ex.School Commissioner Wood
occupied a seat or the platform. Presi-
deut Gilman said: " / want 10 speakto you
about the wonderful character OF the, hui
man hand. and will Cse the good home
word handierait In ancient times the
thumb was regarded as the ruler, but the
rule OF the thumb now implies lack OF
education and skill. ] am here 10 plead for
a member OF the human body which re.
turns MANIFOLD the labor spent uDon it, 10
urge the cultivation OF a wonderful instru-
ment by which the bounds Of knowledge
have been so far extended. A man
Is better thinker, more accurate
worker, il he can reproduce with his
hand what he has thought with bis brain.
We are apt to think that no improve
ment can be made Ia education without
great labor and expense, but i want TO
emphasize the case with which handicraft
can be introduced by systematic effort
and at small outlay. For the girl, and
also for the boy, there is nothing better
than the needle and scissors, and par
hcularly for The boy, the iackknlfe Still
mere fundamental is the pencil. Draw.
ing, in my opinion, lies at the bottom OF
all industrial training. 1t enables one TO
delineate with precision that which he
wishes TO express better than he can do il
with the language Of the pen. do not
mean for the sake OF making pleasing
pictures, but to record in the most con-
else language our thoughts.
"Tbis cry for handicraft does not come
chiefly from those who wish 10 make greater
physical returns, but largely from those
who teach by the printed page-htterdteurs
hike Matthew Arnold, philosophers hike
John Stuart Mill, and theOl0gians like
Canon Farrar. The hand Of the nineteenth
century is weak and worthless. College
students are unable TO work with their
hands. j believe that a great deal OF the
American lack OF accuracy and fidelity,
the American supcriiciality and hazy way
OF doing things, come from a lack OF train
ing Of tue hand with relation to tue
mind. The work OF simply using the
printed page Is bringing poor results. This
Association seems TO have adopted the right
princII les. il is being done quite in sc-
cOrdance with the American way OF doing
things-pushing forward with certain co.
operation with private wealth, yet looking
for some pubic support. In every COM
munity such action should be taken till the
time IS ripe 10 enEst public and school au-
thOrities. The South, freed from certain
trammcs, is recognizing the value Of in
duStral training. The training must
begin with parliamentary work and be
adapted to the capacity OF each
scholar. II must correspond with our
school WAYS and traditions. There should
be journals to publish its progress. We
must secure by translation the results Of
foreign work. We must remember that
the band trains the mind, the mind the
hand. and that the eye trains both. Paris
has teen for two centuries the industrial
centre OF the world. believe it Is because
Colbert, 200 years ago, set about to make all
the Industrial arts attractive, easy, and re-
mIneTatiye, and did his best 10 keep his
countIymen out al unprOductiye Occupl-
irons. France has made many mistakes,
bat she can teach us some very good les
sons. The school OF Mines and the Col.
lege OF the City OF New York are doing 4
noble work, and now comes this lnstltu.
ton, whose progress Will be watched
closely far and wide"